LSAT Explanation PT 40, S3, Q15: People who have doctorates in the

LSAT Question Stem

The conclusion of the argument follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Sufficient Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The structure of the argument is as follows:

Premise 1 (P1): People who have doctorates in the liberal arts are interested in improving their intellects.

Premise 2 (P2): Companies rarely hire people who are not concerned with the financial gain that can be obtained by hard work in the business world.

Conclusion (C): Companies rarely hire people who have doctorates in the liberal arts.

The question type is Sufficient Assumption, which asks us to identify the assumption that, if true, would guarantee the conclusion follows logically from the premises.

Before discussing the answer choices, let's create an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Are people who are interested in improving their intellects also not concerned with the financial gain that can be obtained by hard work in the business world?"

Now, let's discuss each answer choice:

a) Companies would hire people with doctorates in the liberal arts if such people were interested in the money available in the business world.

- This answer choice is incorrect because it discusses a hypothetical situation where companies would hire people with doctorates in the liberal arts. It doesn't address the relationship between improving intellects and being concerned with financial gain.

b) Some people who are interested in the liberal arts do not care about money.

- This answer choice is incorrect because it only addresses "some" people, which is not strong enough to guarantee the conclusion. We need an assumption that covers all people who are interested in improving their intellects.

c) The only people not interested in making money in the business world are people who are interested in improving their intellects.

- This answer choice is incorrect because it reverses the relationship we need to connect the premises. It states that not being interested in making money implies interest in improving intellects. However, we need to establish that being interested in improving intellects implies not being concerned with financial gain.

d) People with doctorates in the liberal arts are interested in employment in the business world.

- This answer choice is incorrect because it doesn't address the relationship between improving intellects and being concerned with financial gain.

e) Only people not concerned with making money in the business world are interested in improving their intellects.

- This answer choice is correct because it establishes the relationship we need: being interested in improving intellects implies not being concerned with financial gain. This allows us to connect the premises and guarantee the conclusion follows logically.

So, the correct answer is E.